Can holding device



Sept. 1, 1959 w. BERCE CAN HOLDING DEVICE Filed May 15, 1957 INVENTOR. WILLIAM BERCE United States Patent CAN HOLDING DEVICE William Berce, Mountain View, NJ.

Application May 15, 1957, Serial No. 659,373

3 Claims. (Cl. 294-33) This invention relates to can utensils and, more particularly, to a combined can puncturing and holding dev1ce.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a device that can be used as a can opener for open ing the top of a can for drinking purposes and after puncturing the can may be used as a handle for holding the can in the manner of a mug when drinking.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combined can opener and holder that is quickly and easily attached to the can when serving as a holding handle and that is quickly and easily detached from the can.

A further object of the invention is to provide a corn bined can opener and holder that is highly effective in puncturing a hole in the top of the can and that is highly effective in holding the can against movement when drinkmg.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a combined can opener and holder with means for readily removing caps from bottles and the like.

It is also proposed to provide a combined can opener and holder that is simple and rugged in construction, economical to manufacture and that can be sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combined can opener and holder embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof looking from the right of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and showing a can in sup ported position in dash lines.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the combined can opener and holder showing in dash lines the top of a bottle in position for removal of its cap.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary end views showing modified forms of can puncturing elements.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a combined can opener and holder is shown in Fig. 1 and is designated at 15. This can opener and holder is formed of a single strip of stout metal bar stock and is substantially U-shaped in configuration. It is especially designed for use with cylindrical cans having flat top and bottom closure ends such as the beer can 16 shown in dash lines in Fig. 3. Such a can is provided with a peripheral projecting flange or bead 17 at each end thereof.

The combined can opener and holder comprises an elongated hand grip portion 18 extending forwardly at both ends thereof as viewed in Fig. 1 forming arm portions 19 and 20. The arm portions are at a slight inclination to the horizontal, tending away from each other as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The free end of arm 19 is bent slightly perpendicular to the arm portion and constitutes a can puncturing portion 21. The can puncturing portion is slightly curved transversely and consists of a sharp-edged, triangular shaped cutting point 22 and a bead fang 23. The head fang is outstruck from the material of the puncturing portion 21 and extends downwardly and forwardly from the base of the can puncturing portion to form a hook which engages under the flange or bead 17 of the can. A rib 24 extends along the periphery of the can puncturing portion to strengthen the same.

The free extremity of the arm portion 20 terminates in an extension indicated generally at 25. The extension is substantially the length of the arm portion and is formed by bending the material of the bar downwardly slightly and curving the same. The curved extension is formed with a pair of parallel slits 26 forming outer fingers or prongs '27 and an intermediate finger or prong 28. The intermediate finger 28 is shaped similarly to the outer fingers but is bent downwardly slightly as viewed in Fig. 1 out of the plane of theouter fingers. At the juncture between the extension 25 and the arm portion 20, the material is transversely bulged as indicated at 29 forming a transverse groove. The material of the arm portion 20 adjacent the bulge '29 is instruck forming an inwardly directed lug 30. An instruck lug 31 is also formed on the hand grip portion 18 adjacent the arm portion 20.

The can is opened by hooking the fang 23 of the device 15 under the bead 17 at the top of the can and then prying upwardly on the handle 18. This tilts the cutting point against the top of the can and continued upward pressure forcesthe point to pierce the top of the can and cut a triangular flap therefrom which is bent downwardly on the inside of the can to form a triangular opening 32 in the top of the can adjacent the periphery thereof. Another opening 33 is similarly formed in the top of the can approximately ninety degrees from opening 32 around the periphery of the can. One of the openings constitutes an outlet or discharge spout and the other a vent opening.

The two outside prongs 27 are set higher than the intermediate prong 28 in order to permit the outside prongs to slide over the surface of the can top and to permit the center prong to slide under the can top after being lnserted in the opening 32 or 33. The tip of the center prong comes to rest against the under surface of the can top for aided support. The prongs are of sufiicient curvature to allow insertion and interlocking without interference from the bead or flange of the can. The engaging or interlocking operation of the prongs is made to coincide with the interlocking of the bead or flange on the can in the seat formed by the bulge 29.

In order to attach the combined opener and holder 15 to the can to serve as a handle therefor, the combined opener and holder is inverted and the intermediate finger 28 of the extension 25 inserted through one of the openings 32 or 33 and along the under surface of the top of the can, the other two outer fingers 27 riding over the top surface of the can until the bulge 29 snaps over the peripheral bead 17 of the can and said bead snaps into the groove or seat formed by said bulge and the lug 30.

The intermediate finger 23 is formed with a point 34 for easy insertion. During this operation, the curved can puncturing portion 21 will be brought into gripping position against the side of the can whereby the device is interlocked in a firm position on the can, with the hand grip portion 18 spaced away from the can, leaving a clearance for the hand of the person holding the can. The can is securely held against wabbling relative to the device. The other opening in the top of the can is so spaced from the device that it is in a position to be brought,

side ofthe device so that the 1ng130' engages one sideof the flange. or the cap andthe lug-31 hooks tinderneath the periphery of therfiange on the otheraside as shownin'Fig. 4. The handle portion 18 is then pried upwardly whereby the lug'31 will 'liftthe cap off of the.

bottle.

In Fig; 5, a modified form of can puncturing portion 21 is shown wherein the side eripheral edges are curvedas indicated at 37 and the cutting point 22 has similarly curved side edges 38;

The modified forr'n ofcan' puncturing portion 21 shown in Fig. 6 is provided with'slanting-shoulders 39 which terminate in the triangularshaped cuttingpoint 22".

While I have illustrated and described thepreferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood'lthat I do not limit myself to the preciseconstructionsherein disclosed and that various changes and modifications'may be made within the..scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what 'I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States- Letters Patent is:-

1. A device comprising a substantially U-shape'dbody including a pair of arms joined by a bight portion, the bight portion of the U-shaped body serving as a-handle, one end arm of the body having an extension' forrned thereon, said extension having a plurality of spaced prongs, said one endarm being bulged'at its juncture with the extension, said prongs lying in twodifterent planes so as to interlock with the punctured end closure ,4 of the can, said bulge forming a seat for the flange of a fianged'can, the other end arm of the body having a portion to abut the can to stabilize the can in the device.

2. A device comprising a substantially U-shaped body including a pair of arms joined by a bight portion, the bight portion of the U-shaped body serving as a handle, one end arm of the body having an extension formed thereon, said extension "-havingka plurality of spaced prongs, said onevendarm-being bulgedzat its juncture with the extension, an instruck lug on said end arm spaced inwardly of the bulge, said prongs lying: in two different planes so as to interlock withthe punctured end closure of the can, said bul'g'e andlug defining a groove serving as a seat for the flangeofa flanged can.

3. A device comprising a substantially U-shaped body including a pair of arms joined by a bight portion, the bight portion of the U-shaped body serving as a handle, one end arm of the body having an extension formed thereon, said extension having a plurality of spaced prongs, said one end am being bulged at its juncture with the extension,.an instruck lug on said end arm spaced inwardly of the bulge, saidprong's lying in two difierent'planes so as to interlockiwith the punctured end closure of the can, said bulge and lug defining a groove serving as a seat for the flange ofa flanged can, the other endarm of-the body having a portion to abut the can to stabilize the'ca'n in the device;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS- 894,725 Cooper July 28, 1908 2,323,080 Anderson June 29, 1943 2,424,094 Herr -.J'uly 15, 1947 2,612,800 Dreier Oct.'7, 1952 2,648,900 Anderson Aug. 18, 1953 2,707,827 Petrarh' May'10, 1955 2,806,732 Montanaro Sept. 17, 1957 

